Jamie Foxx Producing Marvin Gaye Biopic

Marvin Gaye’s family has given the green light, for the first time, to telling the story of the iconic musician. Jamie Foxx , who won an Oscar for his role as Ray Charles in Ray, will executive produce the series along with de Pass Jones Entertainment’s Suzanne de Passe and Madison Jones, reports Billboard.

“I’ve been a huge fan my whole life. His brilliance in music unparalleled,” says Foxx. “Marvin Gaye’s story has always fascinated me.”

The legendary soul singer is remembered for such hits as “What’s Going On,” “Sexual Healing” and “Let’s Get It On.” He was fatally shot in 1984 at the age of 44 by his father in their Los Angeles Home.

“This project will be a powerful and definitive telling of Marvin Gaye’s life story,” says the singer’s son Marvin Gaye III, an executive producer on the new project.

The project also has the blessing of Motown founder Berry Gordy, who said, “Marvin was the truest artist I have ever known, I am confident that this is the right team to bring his story to the audience in an authentic and compelling way.”

“We’ve been involved in a number of attempts to get this done, and now that we’ve been able to marshal all the forces, and Jamie’s come on board as a partner, we’re excited to get going,” says de Passe, who has executive produced multiple Motown television specials.

“This has been a labor of love for three decades,” says Jones. “It’s been brewing for a while.”